Best Horse Rider

What Do Wild Horses Eat? Amazing Feral Horses Facts!

Any horse lover will know that these huge animals eat a lot! In fact, they seem to always be hungry, and we need to give them an enormous supply of hay and grass to keep them happy. But what do wild horses eat, and how does this compare to our domesticated horses? Let’s find out!

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What is the Most Natural Food for Horses?

The digestive system of a horse is an incredibly complex and sensitive series of organs. Horses have undergone thousands of years of evolution to enable them to digest a very specialist diet.

Horses are classified as non-ruminant herbivores. The word herbivore means that they feed on plants. The term non-ruminant means that, unlike other grass-eating mammals such as cattle, horses digest most of their food in the large intestine.

All equines are known as trickle grazers – this means they eat slowly for long periods. They will graze at foodstuffs known as roughage for many hours. In fact, in their natural environment, a horse will spend at least 12 hours per day grazing!

The food that a horse eats is very specific, as its digestive system is uniquely adapted to process only certain foodstuffs. A horse’s natural diet will consist of roughage – this is hay, grass, and herbs. These are the foods that horses have evolved to eat over many thousands of years.

However, if you look at many domesticated horses and you will find that their owners feed them many other types of food as well! It is not uncommon these days to find one or more of the following included in a horse’s diet:

  • Cereals
  • Beet Pulp
  • Vegetable Oil

So, why are these ingredients fed to horses as well as roughage? Domesticated horses are not as hardy and resilient as wild horses, and often need extra calories to maintain their weight. This is particularly important in horses who are doing high levels of work, as they will not get enough energy from roughage to maintain their body weight.

horse eating

What Do Wild Horses Eat?

If you imagine where horses normally live in the wild, it is a far stretch from the lovely green fields that our domesticated horses graze in! Most wild horses live in hostile and treacherous environments, such as mountains and arid plains. It can be hard to figure out how they survive, so just what do horses eat in the wild?

Well, it is safe to say that wild horses do not have unlimited access to grass and hay! They won’t be tucked into a barn at night with a mix of cereal and alfalfa, and will not have a rug to keep them warm in snowy or wet weather.

You might be surprised to learn that some of the foods that wild horses eat would be shunned by our domesticated horses! The wild horse has a sophisticated palate and can detect which plants are beneficial and which are harmful. Our domesticated horses have lost this ability, and tend to stick to grasses and a few herbs.

Here is a list of the plants that horses will eat in the wild:

  • Grasses

As with domesticated horses, wild horses survive by eating mostly grass. However, they are much less fussy when it comes to the grass they eat! Wild horses will eat grass whether it is short or long and will tuck into any grass that is old and dried up with as much enjoyment as lush green grass.

There are dozens of types of wild grasses, and horses will eat most of these. Whereas our horse pastures tend to contain just a few types of grass, a wild horse will eat many different types of grass every day.

  • Herbs and other plants

You might think of these other things that horses eat as weeds, but in the wild horses will eat a wide variety of plants other than grasses! Many of these herbaceous plants are nutritious and very beneficial to the horse.

Wild horses will instinctively know which plants are safe for them to eat. They use their muzzle and tongue to selectively search as they are grazing, picking only the tastiest and most nutritious foods to eat.

  • Trees and bushes

In our neat and tidy horse paddocks, it is very rare for your equine friend to have access to a tree to nibble on! Most domesticated horses will stick to eating grass, but their wild counterparts will enjoy chewing on the tender parts of trees and bushes.

During springtime, the first food is often the tender young shoots and leaves of trees, bushes, and shrubs. As with grasses and herbaceous plants, the horse will know which of these are safe and tasty to eat. Wild horses may also chew on the bark and wood of trees for additional nutrition benefits.

  • Wild fruits

In the wild horses may come across fruits that are suitable for them to eat. Most commonly they will eat wild apples, which are normally too sour for humans to heat! Horses however will tuck into them with great enjoyment.

Wild horses will sometimes also eat berries and other fruits. As with other foods, wild horses will instinctively know which ones are safe to eat. Your domesticated horse may well have lost this skill, so it is not advisable to feed him anything you can’t identify, just in case it is poisonous!

How Much Does a Horse Eat a Day?

Horses are large, muscular animals and, due to the low-calorie density of their normal foods, need to eat a large amount of food each day. Horses also need to eat a large amount of roughage to keep their gastrointestinal tract functioning normally.

The normal foodstuff of horses is grass or hay, and a good rule of thumb is to feed around 1.5% of a horse’s body weight in hay per day. So, if a horse weighs 1,000 lbs, it should eat around 15 lbs of hay per day. Obviously, when a horse is out on grass we have no way of monitoring how much grass it is eating, so the best guide is to be vigilant as to the horse’s weight and signs of obesity, and alter the amount of time the horse spends out at grass accordingly.

Horses with high energy needs, such as those in hard physical work, pregnant or lactating mares, or young fast-growing horses, may not receive all the nutrients and energy they need from hay and grass alone. In these situations, it may be necessary to supplement their diet with energy-dense feeds that are high in carbohydrates, fats, or proteins.

Carbohydrate-based feeds for horses normally consist of cereal grains, whilst fats can be added by supplementing the feed with various vegetable oils. High protein feeds for horses are normally based on legumes such as lucerne. The optimum energy source for your horse will vary according to their life stage and nutritional needs, so it is always a good idea to consult with a qualified equine nutritionist first.

Can Horses Eat Straw?

Some types of straw can be fed to horses, and it can be a useful feed source for certain types of horses. Most straw is very low in calories, making them a good source of fiber for horses on a weight-loss program. However, there are some other types of straw manufactured specifically for horses that can be higher in energy than standard hay.

Straw is often mixed with hay for horses that are overweight or obese, and these horses have been shown to lose weight faster than those fed on hay alone. Some straws are chopped into chaff and fed to horses as part of their concentrated feed.

What Can Horses Not Eat?

Horses are herbivores, meaning they should only eat plant material. Never feed your horse dairy or meat-based food products, and avoid foods with high levels of sugar, salt, or artificial additives.

While horses will browse a wide variety of plants, herbs, bushes, and trees, some plants are poisonous to horses and others can cause unpleasant side effects. The plants that are toxic to horses will vary from region to region, so it is a good idea to become familiar with the wild plants that grow in your area.

Certain vegetables are also poisonous to horses, including those within the nightshade family – potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. Onions and rhubarb are also toxic to horses, and all types of cabbage can cause unpleasant excess gas and bloating of the intestines.

wild horse eats

Summary – What Do Wild Horses Eat?

So, as we have learned, in the wild horses eat mostly grasses and herbs.  The digestive system of a horse is highly adapted to eat a high-roughage diet, and wild horses will thrive by grazing for most of their waking hours. As horse owners, we should aim to keep their diet as close to their wild counterparts as possible.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on what horses eat in the wild. Are you a fan of keeping your horse in the most natural way possible? Or maybe your horse needs extra feed to keep him in good condition? Add your comments below and we’ll get back to you!

Find out How Much Do Jockeys Weigh?

How Big is a Horses Brain? Fascinating Intelligence Facts!

Horses are large animals with considerably large heads, but do they have a brain to match? Just how big is a horses brain and are they as clever as humans?

Maybe you think that horses have huge brains, with the intelligence to match. Or perhaps in your experience horses do silly and stupid things, so they must have a tiny brain? Let’s take a look at horse brain size and find out!

What is a Brain?

It might sound like an obvious question, but if we’re talking about the size of the brain we need to know exactly what the brain is! The brain is basically the control center of the body. In mammals such as humans and horses the brain is normally located in the head and is protected by a thick skull.

Part of the central nervous system, the brain controls thought, memory, emotion, touch, motor skills, vision, breathing, temperature, and hunger. We might just think of our brains as to where our thoughts are processed, but it controls every process that regulates our body!

What Is A Brain

The structure of the brain does not contain any muscle and is made up of a large proportion of fat and water. The remainder consists of nerve cells, blood vessels, and other cells which help to maintain healthy brain tissue.

How Many Brains Does a Horse Have?

Technically horses only have one brain, but because of the way it is divided, it is often likened to two different brains. The equine brain, like the human brain, is divided into several different sections. It is also split in half down the middle, and it is the way that this division is formed in the horse that leads many people to think that horses have two brains.

The central division between each half of the brain is mainly formed of a bundle of fibers called the corpus callosum, which transmits signals and messages from one side of the brain to the other. In horses, the corpus callosum is far less developed than in humans. So, humans can think with both sides of the brain at the same time, while horses are not as developed in this sense.

As many trainers have found, this is why horses often need to be taught a new skill firstly on one side, and then on the other! They cannot transfer what they have learned directly from one side to the other, although they may learn much faster when it comes to learning on the second side. It may also explain why some horses perform far better on one side than the other.

What Are the Parts of the Horses Brain?

As well as being divided down the middle by the corpus callosum, the horse’s brain is also split into several different sections. Each section is responsible for different functions and is split into smaller subsections.

The first section is the hindbrain At the base of this is the brainstem, which transmits signals to and from the spinal cord. The hindbrain also contains the medulla, pons, and cerebellum. The cerebellum is of particular significance, as it controls coordination movement, posture, and balance.

The second section is the mid-brain, which is where auditory and visual reflexes and voluntary movement are controlled.

The final section of the brain is the forebrain which contains the largest part of the brain, the cerebrum. Within the forebrain is the limbic system, which manages essential functions such as learning, emotions, fear, and rage. Control of the endocrine system also occurs in the forebrain via the hypothalamus, thalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal glands.

This is just a brief overview of the parts of the horse’s brain, and in truth scientists still do not fully understand how brain tissue functions and interacts! It is thought that the body of the animal is ‘printed’ on a map of the cerebral cortex, the outer layer of the brain. This shows signals being received via the nervous system from various parts of the body.

This whole network is intricately interconnected with every single part of the body through a complex series of nerves, and the different body systems can adapt and respond to changes in circumstances in response to signals sent from the brain.

How big is a horses brain?

The size of a horse’s skull is quite large, and it would be easy to assume that they have quite a big brain in there. However, the brain of a horse is quite small – about 10 to 15 centimeters (4 to 6 inches) in diameter. To put this in context, about the size of a grapefruit!

The brain of a horse weighs between 1½ pounds and 2 pounds. This is about 0.1% of the horse’s overall body weight. It is incredible to think that something so tiny is so vital in carrying out all the daily functions that allow a horse to exist!

What Affects the Size of Horse Brain?

There is not much data available to help us understand what affects the size of a horse’s brain. The most obvious difference is the size of the horse – smaller horses tend to have smaller brains. This doesn’t seem to affect the overall intelligence of the animal though. In fact, ponies are often regarded as more intelligent than horses.

One factor affecting the size of the horse’s brain has been identified, and that is evolution. Amazingly, horses’ brains are gradually shrinking! It is believed that over a very long period, horses’ brains have shrunk by up to 16%.

Horse Brain, Human Brain: The Neuroscience of Horsemanship

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It is impossible to identify why this has happened. The main factor is thought to be the domestication of horses. They just don’t need to think for themselves as much anymore! Another theory is that the breeding of horses to maintain characteristics has led to a gradual reduction in the size of the brain.

When the brains of domesticated horses are compared to wild horses, the wild brains are up to 30% larger. However, this doesn’t mean that our pet horses are not as intelligent as their wild counterparts! This reduction in brain size is most likely due to them no longer needing the parts of the brain which are required for them to survive in the wild.

Does The Size Of a Horse Brain Matter?

Whether the size of a brain makes a difference to the intelligence of a creature is not entirely clear. Some scientists think that the level of intelligence increases if the size of the brain in proportion to the body increases, but others disagree.

The brain of a horse is smaller than the brain of a human, even though the horse is a larger animal. If we look at the horse brain size compared to humans, a horse’s brain accounts for about 0.1% of the overall body weight, and the human brain is 2%. But does this mean that humans are more intelligent than horses?

Unfortunately, we have no way of working this out! Intelligence can be measured in many different ways. Even though humans are the dominant species, this doesn’t mean we are cleverer than horses. It has been shown that horses are not as skilled at reasoning and problem-solving as humans. However, many of us know a pony who can break free from a seemingly escape-proof field!

Are Horses as Intelligent as Humans?

Horses have retained many instinctive behaviors which humans have lost. The parts of the brain which control these instincts are much more highly developed in horses. For example, horses are prey animals and must always be ready to flee from potential predators. Therefore, the part of the brain which controls movement and coordination – the cerebellum – is much more developed in horses than in humans.

Other scientists have compared the brain size of horses to humans at different ages. They have concluded that the horse has a brain the size of a human child, with the mental capability of a 12-year-old. In the past, horses have been taught to perform basic math, reading, and even spelling exercises!

When you think about horses, you realize that they are intelligent but in very different ways from humans. We communicate by talking, which normally makes it very easy to get our point across. Horses however need to use a variety of different and very subtle ways to communicate, which is much more complex than our use of language. Try and explain how you are feeling without using words and you will see how difficult it is!

Are Horses As Intelligent As Humans

One final part of the equine brain which is highly developed is the area that processes scents. When a horse sniffs at something, the information he can gain from this is far more complex and informative than anything we could imagine. So, we humans might be able to write poetry or solve puzzles, but we can’t figure out what is happening a mile away just by smelling the breeze!

Summary

So, as we’ve learned, horses’ brains are relatively small in size compared to humans.  However, with brains size doesn’t always matter, and horses are generally considered to be quite intelligent. They also have highly developed areas of the brain for important skills such as analyzing smells and fleeing from predators.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on the size of horses’ brains! Perhaps your pony is an absolute genius? Or maybe your horse does the most stupid things, and you wonder if he has a brain at all?! Please add your comments below!

Frequently Asked Questions

How intelligent is a horse?

Horses are intelligent creatures; they are often much smarter than most people think they are. In comparison to humans, some scientists say that horses have the intelligence of a 12-year-old kid. They have a unique ability to recognize their owners, remember the events that occurred to them, and communicate among themselves and with humans as well. Most horses can also recognize themselves in a mirror, learn complex commands, and understand human emotion.

Are horses as clever as dogs?

Both horses and dogs are highly intelligent, and while horses have a strong intuition that is difficult to beat, dogs learn new skills quickly and adapt well to human-canine relationships.
Horses can remember things they’ve seen and can even recall the faces of people they know. In a study published in the journal PLoS ONE, researchers found that horses were able to identify familiar humans based on facial features. They could also recognize different individuals by scent alone.
Horses are also highly trainable animals. They are able to understand commands given to them and can be taught to do a lot of things. For example, in dressage, horses can be taught to perform intricate patterns and movements. Horses are also able to be trained for a variety of purposes.

Do horses remember you?

Research shows that horses not only remember people who have treated them well but also understand words better than expected. Horses know when they’re being treated well and when they’re being mistreated, which has an impact on how they behave toward their human owners. Horses may even be able to “read” faces in humans, researchers said. Horses also have the ability to recognize a person’s emotions, which can help them adapt to changing environments, such as when they are working with different people. One of the latest studies confirmed that horses really do understand what we’re thinking and feeling and that they can respond to our emotions.

What part of the horses brain controls memory?

The part of the horse’s brain that controls memory is the limbic system. It is located in the middle of the brain and is responsible for emotions, instincts, and memories. This is where you find the amygdala, hippocampus, hypothalamus, and thalamus.
In order to learn something, information must be transferred from the senses to the brain, and then to the part of the brain that controls memory. In horses, this is the limbic system. The information from the senses goes to the sensory cortex, which is just behind the eyes. From there, the information is sent to the hippocampus. The hippocampus is a very important part of the brain because it is where memories are stored.

Are horses emotional?

Horses are capable of feeling their own emotions, as well as yours. Horses are intelligent, capable of forming deep bonds with people, and have emotions, just as humans do.
Horses feel anger, jealousy, sadness, loss, joy, happiness, love, hate, grief, surprise, and a variety of other emotions. They are also capable of showing these emotions through their actions. For example, they may show anger when someone threatens them, or show grief when someone dies. A horse’s personality is expressed in its behavior.

What is a Wave Mouth in Horses, and Can It Be Corrected?

Horses are prone to many different dental problems, and wave mouth in horses is one of the more difficult problems to correct. Let’s find out everything you need to know about this complex dental issue in horses!

Normal Horse Jaw Anatomy and Dentition

The horse has a very impressive and well-adapted jaw anatomy, enabling it to consume large amounts of roughage such as hay and grass. Horses are adapted to eat for many hours each day, and chewing large amounts of food gradually wear away the grinding surface of the teeth.

The horse has two large jaws, the upper mandible, and the lower maxilla. As the horse chews, these move in a circular motion, crushing the food between the grinding surfaces of the teeth. The teeth that do this work are called the cheek teeth, consisting of three molars and three premolars on each side of each jaw.

Normal Horse Jaw Anatomy And Dentition

The cheek teeth have a uniquely adapted grinding surface, with hard ridges or folds of enamel on a flat surface. It is these ridges that grind the food into smaller pieces, as they make contact with the teeth on the opposing jaw.

In a horse with normal jaw anatomy, the teeth on each jaw meet evenly, and will all wear away at the same rate. However, domesticated horses have many dental problems, and the vast majority are caused when the teeth do not wear away evenly.

Check Out How Many Foals Can A Horse Have?

Why Do Horses Get a Wave Mouth?

A wave mouth in horses occurs when the molar teeth are not correctly aligned. This leads to the teeth being worn away unevenly as the horse chews. Some teeth will be worn away excessively, while others will grow too long. This leads to a wave-like appearance of the molar teeth of the horse.

The cheek teeth of the horse erupt very slowly but continuously throughout its entire life. Each molar and premolar has a large reserve – this is the section of the tooth under the gum. It moves up slowly through the horse’s lifetime, to replace the grinding surface that is worn away when the horse eats.

In a wave mouth, the teeth do not rub against each other evenly, and this process becomes disrupted. Teeth that are worn away excessively cannot erupt fast enough to keep up and become shorter than normal. In extreme cases, the tooth may wear away right down to the gum line.

Caring for the Horse’s Teeth and Mouth

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Whilst these teeth are being worn away excessively, the opposing tooth is not being worn down enough and starts to become too long. This, combined with worn-down teeth, creates the characteristic wave-life appearance of this dental problem in horses.

A wave mouth in horses can be very difficult to correct, particularly if it has been allowed to develop over many years. A regular dental check will identify and correct the problems caused by abnormal wearing of the teeth before they develop into a wave mouth.

Once a wave mouth has formed, it will take many regular dentistry sessions to correct the abnormal wear and growth. This involved gradually filing down the grinding surface of the overgrown teeth, giving the opposing tooth chance to grow back to its normal size. Only a small amount can be ground away during each treatment session, otherwise, the sensitive pulp in the center of the tooth may be exposed, causing pain and infection.

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What Causes a Wave Mouth in Horses?

There are some factors, including genetic, conformation, and management related, that can predispose horses to develop a wave mouth.

If a horse has poor jaw alignment, then it is more likely to suffer from a wave mouth. This includes horses with an underbite and an overbite.

Miniature horse breeds are also more likely to develop a wave mouth, due to poor dental alignment.

What Causes A Wave Mouth In Horses?

 

How horses are managed also affects the chances of them developing a wave mouth. This includes horses that are fed from a raised feeder or hay rack, as the chewing action is altered when the horse eats with the head raised.

If a horse does not receive regular dental care, it may also develop a wave mouth. A minor dental abnormality, such as a small hook on one of the cheek teeth, can cause the horse to chew abnormally. This leads to the teeth wearing down unevenly, and the horse will get a wave mouth.

Why Do Horses Get Dental Problems?

Unfortunately, dental problems are very common in horses, and extreme cases of bad horse teeth are all too common. Unfortunately,y this is mainly due to the way that domesticated horses are bred and looked after.

Inherited dental problems

In the wild, horses with tooth problems would not be able to thrive and survive. For example, a horse with sharp teeth would experience pain when chewing, and would not be able to eat enough food to stay healthy. As they are not in peak physical fitness, horses with dental problems are less likely to successfully breed with other horses.

This process is called natural selection, where horses with health problems and abnormalities are less likely to produce offspring. This means that the likelihood of genetic defects and congenital abnormalities being passed on to the next generation is reduced, as the horses in peak physical condition have a better chance of producing a foal.

In domesticated horses, we care for and nurture horses with dental problems, enabling them to live happy and comfortable lives. Unfortunately, this may then mean that horses with bad teeth are then used for breeding, potentially passing on any dental issues to their offspring.

Acquired dental problems

The other reason that domesticated horses are more likely to suffer from dental issues than their feral counterparts is the way we care for our horses. In a way, we have made their lives too comfortable, and the result is numerous issues with their teeth!

The grinding cheek teeth of a horse continuously erupt over their lifetime, to enable them to grind down large quantities of highly fibrous plant material. So, in the wild, a horse can eat all the plant material it needs to survive – tough grasses, shrubs, brush, herbs, and even young trees.

In contrast, our domesticated horses have a luxurious lifestyle – in their barn,s we feed them sweet, soft meadow hay, and out at pasture they can eat nutrient-dense lush grass at their leisure. When we provide additional feed, such as concentrates, chaff, or sugar beet, this is normally in the form of an easy-to-chew mash.

However, it is not only the softness of the feed that is the problem but also the way we feed our beloved equines. The anatomy of the horse is designed so that when the head is lowered to the floor, the upper and lower jaw are aligned perfectly to enable them to chew food. When we feed hay or concentrates from a net, rack, or bucket at head height, this alters the alignment of the jaw.

Misalignment of the jaws can lead to uneven wear of the teeth, causing sharp points and ramps on the grinding surfaces of the cheek teeth. In severe cases, the horse may even develop a wave mouth, which can be very difficult to correct.

Horse tartar build-up is not a common problem, but it can occur around the canine teeth or incisors. This can lead to intense pain around the gum line, and the horse may refuse to eat. This condition is called hypercementosis, and treatment involves removing the affected teeth.

Wave Mouth in Horses Summary

So, as we have learned, wave mouth in horses occurs when the molar teeth are not correctly aligned. This leads to the teeth being worn away unevenly as the horse chews. Some teeth will be worn away excessively, while others will grow too long. This leads to a wave-like appearance of the molar teeth of the horse.

We’d love to hear your thought on wave mouth in horses! Has your horse been successfully treated for this difficult problem? Or maybe you’ve got a question about how dental problems in horses can be avoided. Leave a comment below and we’ll get back to you!

FAQs

How Do I Know If My Horse Has Teeth Problems?

If a horse has teeth problems you may notice that he is having difficulty eating. This can include dropping food, particularly balls of chewed grass or hay. You might also see food packed around the teeth or inside the cheeks.

Horses that have teeth problems may start to lose weight, as they cannot chew and digest food properly. You might also notice behavioral problems, particularly when the horse is ridden.

What Is A Wave Mouth?

A wave mouth is when the molars of the horse are worn in an irregular wave-shaped pattern. This occurs because of an uneven or abnormal bite, meaning the teeth are not accurately aligned when the horse chews food. The teeth on one part of the wave will be worn down excessively, while other teeth grow too long.

How Do You Treat Wave Mouth In Horses?

The treatment options for wave mouth in horses depends on the severity of the condition and the age of the horse. A younger horse can be treated by gradually correcting the overgrowths through careful and repeated floating. In an older horse, the wave mouth may be so advanced that it cannot be corrected.

How Long Do Mini Horses Live? Amazing Miniature Pony Facts!

We all know that owning a horse is a long-term commitment, and they can live for at least 20 years. But what about miniature horses – do they live as long as full-sized horses? Kust how long do mini horses live, and are they easy to look after? Let’s find out!

Many people are choosing to get a miniature horse as a great family pet or companion for a larger horse. But before giving a home to one of these tiny horses, you need to think about how long they can live.

Let’s find out all about miniature horses and discover how long their lifespan really is!

What is a Miniature Horse?

Firstly, let’s get something straight and figure out exactly what a miniature horse is. There are many different words to describe equine animals, and you will hear people refer to horses and ponies. But where do miniature horses fit into all this? Both miniature horses and ponies are much smaller than full-size horses. However, there are some significant differences between them.

Ponies are not only smaller than horses, but they have differences in their appearance and characteristics. They tend to be sturdier and have thicker body hair and are strong and athletic.

On the other hand, miniature horses have the same body shape and temperament as a horse, but just in a much smaller size! This means that they have a refined and elegant build, and are much more fragile than a pony.

What Is A Miniature Horse

So even though a miniature horse is as small or even smaller than a pony, it is still classified as a horse. These little horses are very popular as family pets, and can also be used for some equestrian activities.

Many breeds of miniature horses do not have the strength to carry a rider, but they may be able to pull a lightweight cart. They are also great for children to learn how to handle and care for a horse. Mini horses are becoming increasingly popular in the service animal sector, as they can support people with both mental and physical impairments.

These little horses are also very quick-witted, making them ideal for scurry driving and equine agility competitions. If you are a mini-horse owner, you will know how easily these little horses learn to solve problems, such as opening gates and escaping through tiny gaps!

Where do mini horses come from?

When it comes to miniature horse origin, the first record of purposely breeding smaller horses was in Europe in the 1600s. The upper classes and nobility liked to keep them as ornamental pets, but they were also useful as working animals in confined spaces such as mines.

In the 1800s the first mini horses arrived in the United States, where there are now two breed registries for these popular tiny equines.

How Long Do Mini Horses Live?

It is a peculiar feature of many animal species that, the smaller the breed, the longer their lifespan. For example, in dogs, the lifespan of a tiny Yorkshire Terrier is nearly twice as long as that of a giant Great Dane. But is the same true for horses?

Yes, it is! The lifespan of a miniature horse is surprisingly long, with many of these tiny equines living long and healthy lives of up to at least 30 years. It is not uncommon to find mini equines that are nearly 40 years old, and the oldest miniature horse lived to 50 years of age!

The Big Book of Miniature Horses

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Is a Mini Horse Lifespan Longer Than a Normal Horse?

If you have a fit and healthy miniature horse, you can expect it to outlive a normal-sized horse by at least five years. The average lifespan of a medium-sized horse is 25 to 30 years.

However, as with any horse or pony, it must be kept free from health problems to live as long as possible. Mini horses need a carefully planned diet and should be kept as fit as possible. An overweight miniature horse that lazes around in a field all day will not live to a ripe old age!

What Factors Shorten a Miniature Pony Lifespan?

Although many mini horses live for a very long time, some factors can shorten their lifespan. This is because they are prone to several health issues:

  • Dwarfism

The intensive breeding of miniature horses to reduce their size has led to a rise in a condition called dwarfism. These are genetic mutations that lead to several health complications.

Luckily, many mini-horse breed societies now recognize this problem. They are taking steps to reduce the incidence of dwarfism by eliminating the use of horses with dwarfism genes for breeding.

  • Obesity

It is easy to overestimate the amount of food that these tiny horses need, and they can easily become obese. This will lead to life-threatening conditions such as laminitis and insulin resistance.

Obesity - What Factors Shorten A Miniature Pony Lifespan

  • Limb deformities

It is not uncommon for a miniature horse to be born with a limb deformity, which may reduce its lifespan. These include angular limb deformities, where the limb is crooked or twisted. They are also prone to patella problems, such as patellar luxation.

  • Dental problems

Mini horses are more susceptible to dental issues due to their small size. This is because the teeth are too overcrowded, causing an overbite or underbite.

Dental problems can impair the horse’s ability to chew properly, leading to gastrointestinal problems. Overcrowded teeth can also cause issues such as sinusitis, a bacterial infection of the sinus.

  • Colic

Mini horses are one of the equines most prone to fecoliths. These are impactions of manure in the intestine, normally caused by poor chewing. Fecoliths often require surgical removal.

  • Hepatic lipidosis

If a mini horse stops eating, it will start to use its fatty tissue to provide energy and nutrition. This can be too much for the liver to process, and cause a disease called hepatic lipidosis, or ‘fatty liver disease’. If left untreated, hepatic lipidosis will quickly lead to liver failure and death.

  • Dystocia

Due to their incredibly small size, miniature horses can struggle to give birth naturally. It is also common for mini horse foals to have abnormally large heads in proportion to their body. This leads to dystocia, where the foal can become trapped in the birth canal.

How Long Do Dwarf Horses Live?

Sadly, many dwarf horses do not have a very long life expectancy. Dwarf horses are not the same as mini horses, although there is a high prevalence of dwarfism amongst mini horse breeds.

Dwarf horses occur when the offspring of two horses inherit a specific dwarfism gene, rather than miniature horses which are selectively bred to create smaller horses. Dwarfism genes do result in a smaller horse, but they can also cause many other issues.

There are two types of dwarfism in horses, and which type the horse has will affect the lifespan of the horse. The first type is called proportional dwarfism, where every part of the body reduces in size by the same amount. These types of dwarf horses tend to suffer from fewer health problems, although they can still suffer from issues common to mini horses such as dental overcrowding.

The other type of dwarfism is called disproportionate dwarfism and causes some parts of the body to be disproportionately smaller than others. This creates a horse that is physically out of proportion and can lead to severe physical disabilities and health problems. These types of dwarf horses tend to have a much shorter lifespan and are often euthanized as a result of their health issues.

How Big Do Mini Horses Get?

Because they are so small, mini horses are normally measured in centimeters or inches rather than hands. The acceptable height for a mini horse slightly varies according to which breed society the horse is registered with.

The American Miniature Horse Association will only include miniature horses measuring 34 inches or less on their breed registry. The American Miniature Horse Registry classes horses of this size as ‘A’ division mini horses and those that are between 34 and 38 inches are registered on the ‘B’ division register.

The average mini horse weight is 150 to 350 pounds. In contrast, some of the bigger horse breeds can weigh around 2,000 pounds – that’s more than 10 miniature horses! Their small size and weight mean that mini horses will cost far less to feed than full-size horses, but their other care costs can be just as expensive.

Summary

So, as we have learned, the lifespan of a miniature horse means it can live up to at least 30 years old. If they are fit and healthy, they will outlive larger horses by at least five years. However, many health problems can affect miniature horses which will shorten their lifespan.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about the lifespan of miniature horses. Have you ever heard of a miniature horse that lived to be more than 50 years old? Or maybe you want to learn more about miniature horse health problems? Please add a comment below and we’ll get back to you!

How Quickly Can a Horse Founder on Grass? Top Founder Facts!

Just about every horse owner, especially those with older horses, has wondered, how quickly can a horse founder on grass. A founder can be a serious illness, but it is preventable and treatable. Founder, also known as laminitis, can occur in horses of any age, though it is more likely to happen in older horses.

One of the most common ways for horses to founder is by overeating grass. Though grass is an important part of a horse’s diet, too much can cause serious issues. Horses eating fresh spring grass after a long winter are more prone to founder.

What is Founder in Horses?

Founder is caused by inflammation of the blood-rich laminae that connect the hoof wall to the bones that lie within the hoof capsule of the horse. These laminae act like incredibly strong velcro, but when they become inflamed the bond between them weakens. This is very painful for the horse, and can also result in some incredibly detrimental structural changes within the hoof capsule itself.

In a horse with founder, also known as laminitis, the body weight of the horse exerts pressure on the weakened laminae, causing them to pull apart. This creates tiny gaps between the hoof wall and pedal bone, allowing the pedal bone to move away from the hoof wall. The bone will either rotate, sink (founder), or both. When this occurs, the horse will require many months or even years of remedial farriery work to return the hoof to normal.

A diagnosis of founder or laminitis in horses is a serious issue, and horse owners should do as much as possible to try and prevent this issue from occurring. To do this, it helps to have a good understanding of why horses founder and how to prevent it from happening.

Why Do Horses Founder on Grass?

In recent years the understanding of why horses founder has greatly increased. Previously it was thought that founder happened when a healthy horse ate too much grass over a short period, but it has become clear that many of these horses may have been already suffering from undiagnosed health problems.

It has been discovered that most horses that founder have one of two health problems – Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) or Cushing’s Disease (PPID). Both of these diseases cause poor regulation of blood sugar levels, and these horses often become resistant to the levels of insulin within the bloodstream. In EMS, the primary cause is normally abnormal levels of body fat, so this condition is very common in horses that are overweight or obese. In PPID, the pituitary gland loses the ability to regulate metabolic functions adequately.

When a horse with either of these conditions consumes food with high levels of carbohydrates in the form of fructans, also known as sugars, an episode of founder is highly likely to occur. And because at certain times of the yea,r grass can be very high in fructans, it can be the triggering factor in an episode of laminitis. For this reason, the term ‘grass founder’ has been used for many years, even though these horses were likely to be already suffering from altered metabolism beforehand.

Grass founder - Spring

How quickly can a horse founder on grass?

The rate at which a horse can founder on grass will depend on the levels of fructans in the grass and how susceptible the horse is to them. In the spring, grass tends to be very high in fructans, particularly in certain high-risk situations:

  • Rapidly-growing lush grass contains higher levels of fructans
  • Grass that has been grazed short during the winter will grow rapidly and produce high levels of fructans
  • In the spring, warm days and cool nights trigger increased fructan levels

In a horse or pony that is already predisposed to founder or laminitis, such as one that is obese, just a few hours grazing on pasture that is high in fructans may be enough to trigger an episode of grass founder.

Grass founder symptoms & treatment

In a horse with founder, the first symptom seen is often mild lameness or a reluctance to walk on hard or stony ground. The horse is commonly lame in both front feet, so a shortened, stilted gait is commonly seen. The horse will shift their weight from side to side while standing in an attempt to ease the pain, or may stand with their forelimbs extended forwards. An increased digital pulse indicates increased blood flow to the hoof capsule as a result of inflammation.

The first step in grass founder treatment is to immediately remove the horse from any foodstuffs that are high in fructan and to confine them to a stall with a soft, comfortable bed to encourage them to lie down. It is vital to get any suspected case of founder examined by a veterinarian straight away, as any delay in treatment can severely prolong your horse’s recovery time.

 The Rate at Which Grass Can Cause Horses to Founder

How to prevent grass founder in horses

For horses that are already prone to founder, their time on grass should be limited, especially at the beginning of spring. This includes horses that are overweight, obese or those that have been diagnosed with PPID or EMS. The single best thing you can do to prevent founder is to keep your horse at a healthy bodyweight, reducing the risk of EMS and insulin resistance. Whilst PPID (Cushing’s Disease) is not curable, it can be treated with long-term medication which will reduce the risk of laminitis.

During high-risk periods, horses at risk of foundering can be turned out on a dry lot for exercise. Grazing muzzles can also help prevent a horse from eating too much fresh grass. Never turn a laminitis-prone horse out onto spring grass when the nighttime temperatures drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Allowing your horse to fill up on hay may also help to slow their grass intake and reduce spikes in blood sugar levels.

When can my foundered horse eat grass again?

When a horse has foundered once, it is at a higher risk of happening again in the future. This means that extreme care must be taken to reduce any risk factors that may lead to an episode of founder.

Most veterinarians advise that any underlying hormonal problems must be treated before the horse is allowed to eat grass again. So, if your horse has been diagnosed with Cushing’s disease, it may take several weeks for the medication to take effect and return hormonal levels to normal.

With founder that was triggered by EMS, the wait may be even longer before your horse can eat grass again. Your horse will need a long weight-loss program and regular exercise to return its body weight to normal. Only once the excess weight is lost and the hormonal levels are under control will your horse be permitted to eat grass again.

Once your horse can eat grass, it can be a good idea to graze them on pasture that contains a high proportion of clover or alfalfa. Legumes are lower in fructans than grass and will reduce the risk of laminitis.

Can a Horse Founder on Hay?

Horses can potentially founder on hay, but only if they are suffering from a pre-existing medical condition or are severely overweight. The key to reducing the risk of founder in horses is feeding a diet that is low in fructans, and maintaining a good body condition score. Feeding an obese horse large amounts of nutrient-dense hay could cause the horse to founder.

If your horse is prone to founder, feed hay that is low in soluble carbohydrates – ideally, hay that is cut from mature pasture in the summer months. To reduce the nutrient levels further, the hay can be soaked for up to 60 minutes.

Summary – How Quickly Can a Horse Founder on Grass?

So, as we have learned, horses that suffer from pre-existing health problems can founder in just a few hours if allowed unlimited access to grass that is high in fructans. Horses of any age that are overweight or obese can founder on grass, as can older horses suffering from untreated Cushing’s disease. The highest risk period is during the spring months, particularly on pasture that was grazed short during the winter months.

We would love to hear your thoughts about how quickly can a horse founder on grass! Leave a comment below, and share this article with your horse-mad friends!